The Lost City of Z Page #6

Come along.

See?

Brian.

Where is Jack?

Father, I'm here.

I thought I had died.

Oh, no.

You were exposed

to chlorine gas,

and your eyes were affected,

but they are very confident

that your sight shall return.

The rest of the men?

- Costin?

- Mr. Costin was unharmed.

Your brigade suffered

many losses,

but it was the only one

that did not retreat.

Thanks to your bravery,

they are raising your rank

to lieutenant colonel.

Lieutenant colonel?

After all that he has done?

Jack.

I think I was dreaming...

About Amazonia.

I... I'm afraid

you may never be able

to return to your jungle.

I am sorry.

Shh. Rest.

All will be well.

- I must go back.

- My love...

You cannot think

of these things right now.

I'm going to take the children

for some air.

Come along.

Father.

Jack.

Jack.

America has quite

a fascination with you.

Our readers have been asking

where you've been since the war.

I'm grateful for their interest.

You may tell your readers

I've recovered from my wounds

and have been adapting

to home life.

Your pursuits in south America

have led to a tremendous

interest in exploration

in the United States.

There have been

many new voyages planned.

- Have there?

- Yes.

Dr. Hamilton rice

leaves for Brazil soon

with radio and airplanes.

He's taking a large

and very well armed party.

Well, let us hope that Dr. rice,

with all his arms,

does not destroy

what he wishes to discover.

Allow me to ask you a question.

Yes, sir.

How did you find us here?

Your son, colonel.

He wrote us a letter.

Didn't he tell you?

Good shot, Jack.

Thank you, father.

Getting quite expert

with that rifle.

Practice makes perfect,

you know.

I have something for you.

This was given to me

by a guarani Indian chief.

A great man.

It's yours now.

Thank you.

It must have been

a glorious day.

You still believe in Z,

do you not?

That we underestimated

the Indian?

That is why we should go back.

You and I together.

We could find the city

once and for all.

Jack...

I'm an old bastard now.

Father, you and I...

We both know it.

You easily outmatch

my strengths.

And now you can see

as clear as day again.

There is nothing stopping us.

Father...

The Americans will venture there

with their guns.

And then we must pray that

they do not destroy the Indian.

We must find it before they do.

I want nothing more than

to go with you, father.

It's everything

you've always wanted.

We would have to consult

a higher authority.

I understand

that it's dangerous,

but you've said so yourself,

with everything

that's happened in Europe,

it's not possible

to choose a safe passage

through life.

So many men near my own age

did not return from the war,

and... And who is to say

it will not happen again?

It could, mother.

It could happen again.

By all accounts,

I should be furious

because you've just...

You've just used

my very own words against me.

And how can I refute them?

They are my own.

Joan's being so annoying.

Bloody slapped me!

All right.

Joan, don't slap him.

Thank you.

Off. Go on.

She hit me on the face!

Brian, I am in the middle

of a conversation.

Go and help your sister

get some wood, please,

from the log pile now.

Now!

Fight your own battles.

Mother, please.

There is little doubt

that I would worry night and day

about my boys in the jungle.

But we have never let fear

determine our future.

That's all.

Mother, thank you.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

- Father, listen, I...

- Jack, Jack, Jack.

- We are not there yet.

- I know...

We will have to raise

a great deal of money.

Of course.

I understand. Yes.

Go, go.

Let me talk to your mother.

And training.

Well, of course.

I shall begin right away.

You and I

and Mr. Costin.

I'm sure he'd love to join us.

Thank you, mother.

Thank you.

What?

I'm just surprised

you agreed so quickly.

What choice did I have?

It's his essential nature.

It would be wrong

to betray that.

Besides, you will be there

to guide him.

Here they are, chief.

These are the last

of my notebooks.

I hope they'll be helpful.

Can I truly not persuade you

to come?

We came so close, Henry.

Think of what it would mean...

To finally find it together.

Chief, I have a wife

and child now.

My own children were younger

than yours is now

when we went on our first trip.

I can't say

it was not a sacrifice.

But if you could see my boy now,

his vim and vigor...

I guarantee, it would tear down

your resistance in an instant.

Would you like

some more Brandy, sir?

No, thank you, Nigel.

For yourself, sir?

- No, thank you.

Chief, please,

don't misunderstand me.

I'm...

Best sympathy for...

This search for Z.

I can no longer bear the cost.

You've come to doubt

its existence?

No.

I only doubt that Z can provide

all the answers

you seek from it.

I wish you success,

my dear friend.

This will be

no pampered expedition.

Top-heavy missions get nowhere.

They linger on the fringe

of civilization

and bask in publicity.

We will not.

We will be in the field

for three years...

standing on our own two feet,

surviving by our wits.

Tribesmen shall take

our dispatches

to be delivered for publication

as often as possible.

But who's going to finance

this latest journey of yours?

The money is

generously being supplied

by a consortium

of American newspapers

and Mr. John D. Rockefeller, Jr.

Are you aware

the royal geographical society

has just offered to help

with the financing?

I am glad to see our nation

is not to be left behind.

I would like now to introduce

my companion

for this historic expedition...

My own son,

Mr. Jack Fawcett.

He is a man of great discipline

and keen as mustard.

Well, we couldn't

very well be shamed

by the Americans, now, could we?

No, but I am proud to say

that we did finally

manage to meet them halfway.

Sir George, god rest his soul,

always bore you great affection.

But I admit my error in not

accepting your beliefs long ago.

No.

All that matters now

is the future.

Yes.

I have carried this

for the last 20 years.

When we reach Z,

I shall send it to you

as a sign...

Just in case I decide

not to come back.

Oh, nonsense, nonsense.

Oh, now, we... We...

We have something for you.

Mr. Barclay, please.

The society's highest honor...

The founder's gold medal.

You are truly

deserving, colonel.

Truly.

Indeed.

All the arrangements are made.

We leave for Portugal

on the 7th,

and then we meet again

in Brazil.

No one can best us now.

Remember, the code with

the coordinates is in my desk,

and Mr. Costin has a copy

in safekeeping.

Yes, you've told me

a thousand times.

Now run along,

or you'll miss your boat.

You're a man now,

responsible for your mother

and sister's care.

It's a fine calling,

no less and perhaps even more

virtuous than ours.

All right?

Good-bye, father.

I shall indeed miss you,

as I always have.

- Look after your father for me.

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